In most people, high blood pressure causes no symptoms until it’s gone on for so long that it damages their organs. That’s why it’s called the silent killer.
High blood pressure is the single most important risk factor for stroke. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, you are seven times more likely to have a stroke than if it is under control.
If you have high blood pressure and you also smoke, have high cholesterol or diabetes or are obese, your risk for a heart attack or stroke increases several times over having high blood pressure alone.
African Americans are more likely than Caucasians to have high blood pressure, to get it earlier in life and to have it more severely. It affects one in three African Americans.
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